A Jan. 24 article reported that Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Sheryl McNellis-Martinez is out on sick leave and that Lydia Flores had been named interim superintendent. In fact, Flores was named acting superintendent.

Consolidation of both local school districts has been the talk of the town for a number of years.

Last Wednesday, Gov. Susana Martinez chimed in on the issue after two Las Vegas City Schools board members brought it up during her visit to Legion Park Elementary, where she promoted her proposed education budget for this year’s legislative session.

Board member Luis Ortiz suggested an executive order from the governor, but it was no dice from the governor for his suggestion.

Cirque Zuma Zuma is the only performance troupe of its kind in the world and has toured for sell-out crowds in Europe, Australia and the United States. The performance at Highlands is in celebration of Black History Month

SANTA FE — Democratic lawmakers pushed ahead Friday with a proposal to overhaul New Mexico’s oversight of education by reversing a decision by voters a decade ago that gave the governor more influence over public school policy.

The Senate Rules Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment on a party-line vote that would remove the Public Education Department from the direct control of the governor.

The New Mexico Public Education Department says the 2013 rate maintains the seven percentage point increase achieved by the Class of 2012.

The department also notes that since 2011, graduation rates have significantly improved for the state’s Hispanic, Native American, African American, Economically Disadvantaged, and disabled students. Some groups had gains as large as 13 percentage points.

In 1964
Monday, Feb. 3 — Winter was evident in Las Vegas this morning with drifts of snow piled up around bushes, as wind had swept part of the sidewalks downtown. The high yesterday was 38 and the low last night 15. At 11 a.m. today the temperature was 18. The four inches of snow at the Las Vegas Airport yielded .05 inch of precipitation.

Free tax preparation
Free 2013 tax return preparation is offered for low- and middle-income persons and seniors by the AARP Tax-Aide Program. The service is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, from Feb. 3 through April 14 at the new student center at Highlands University. Walk-ins are welcome. Please bring all necessary documents.

Monday
A 10 percent chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. South wind 10-15 mph. Scattered snow showers at night. Cloudy, with a low around 16. South wind 5-15 mph, becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Tuesday
A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph. A 20 percent chance of snow showers at night. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8.